Pasadena council denies appeal, clears Caltech's Green Street innovation center after intense public hearing

Summary

After more than three hours of public testimony, Pasadena's City Council denied an appeal and approved concept design review for a four-story Caltech-backed research-and-development building at 1364 East Green St., finding the project exempt from CEQA's Class 32 infill rules and recording several voluntary mitigation commitments from the applicant.

The Pasadena City Council voted unanimously March 2 to deny an appeal of the Design Commission's approval and to approve concept design review for a proposed four-story, roughly 93,500-square-foot research-and-development building at 1364 East Green Street.

The decision came after a lengthy quasi-judicial hearing that drew more than 50 in-person speakers and extensive expert testimony about traffic, air and noise impacts, and potential biosafety risks. Appellants argued the project was wrongly found eligible for a Class 32 CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) infill exemption and urged a more detailed environmental review; the applicant, represented by Trammell Crow/Caltech, said technical studies showed no significant environmental impacts and described voluntary design and operational concessions.

Why the council acted: Staff recommended the council find the project eligible for a Class 32 categorical exemption, citing technical reports on noise, air quality, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) prepared for the project and reviewed by city consultants. Staff and the Design Commission concluded the site met the four criteria for the infill exemption (consistency with…

Pasadena council denies appeal, clears Caltech's Green Street innovation center after intense public hearing

Summary

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